MC Hammer Arrested And Racially-Profiled By California Police

Posted By
Urban News Hour |
February 24, 2013

OAKLAND, Calif. — Bay Area rapper and entrepreneur MC Hammer was arrested and booked into a Dublin jail on Thursday for allegedly obstructing a police officer at nearby shopping center, according to authorities.

According to reports, the platinum-selling hip hop icon was arrested by a police officer at the Hacienda Crossings Shopping Center on a charge of obstructing an officer in the performance of their duties.

Hammer, who currently heads a MMA athlete management company, tweeted about the incident, saying that it started when a “chubby elvis looking dude was tapping on my car window, I rolled down the window and he said, ‘Are you on parole or probation?’

“While I was handing him my ID he reached in my car and tried to pull me out the car but forgot he was on a steady donut diet,” tweeted Hammer. “It was comical to me until he pulled out his guns, blew his whistle and yelled for help (MallCop).”

Hammer was booked into Santa Rita Jail that night and released after being cited, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

The department told KTVU that it would not release the rapper’s mug shot.

Born Stanley Kirk Burrell –- his name was legally changed to MC Hammer, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office – Hammer saw serious commercial success in the late 1980s and early 1990s with hits songs such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit.” According to his Wikipedia page, Hammer has reportedly sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Hammer ended his series of Tweets about the incident with this: “Instead of being bitter, I’m taking the opportunity to make this a ‘teachable moment’ and ‘eye opener’ for my many friends & colleagues.”

When asked to comment on the rapper’s version of the arrest, Dublin Police Services Sgt. Herb Walters wrote in an email, “We patrol the area of Hacienda Crossings Shopping Center, especially at nighttime hours. That is about all I can say for now.”